MARCH 12-14, 2014
TEMPE, AZ

Presentations and Handouts

WICHE Orientation

The Future of U.S. Higher Education: A Conversation with Lee Gardner

What’s the near-term future of U.S. higher education? The truth is, no one really knows, not even your speaker. But the current landscape of federal interventions, state policy, technological disruptions, changing demographics, and other complex factors allows for some educated (if sometimes discomfiting) guesses. Join us for an interactive discussion of the issues facing colleges and of the possible outcomes.

Promising Pathways to Student Success: A Data Driven Approach

Using high school achievement data to improve assessment, placement, and attainment of early educational milestones substantially increased the rate of first-time students’ assessment into transfer-level courses in English and Math by up to 500 percent at Long Beach City College (LBCC). Once in those courses, these students successfully completed the courses at the same rates as returning students who completed prerequisite courses and as students assessed directly into the courses via standardized tests. Most importantly, when alternative assessments were combined with prescriptive, full-time placement into foundational skills courses, the completion of key early educational milestones increased dramatically across all student demographic groups. LBCC’s findings provide 1) compelling support for the use of high school achievement data as a better predictor of performance in college level courses than traditional, standardized assessments; and 2) strong initial indications that acting on that research can meaningfully improve both the rate of and time to attainment of meaningful educational outcomes.

The Completion Agenda

The Completion Agenda—doubling the number of community college students who, in the next ten years, complete a certificate, Associate’s Degree, or transfer to a four-year college or university—has become the overarching mission of the nation’s community colleges. What students need to do to meet this goal and what conditions need to be in place in the college to ensure that students meet this goal will be addressed in this session.

Implementing Applied Baccalaureate Degrees in Community and Technical Colleges

Changing degree requirements in some high demand fields and limited geographic access to baccalaureate institutions has led some community and technical colleges to seek authorization to offer bachelor's degrees in targeted occupations. Mike McFarlane, Great Basin College in Nevada, has been a pioneer in this growing movement and will offer practical advice based on his experience and the experiences of other early adopters. Jan Yoshiwara, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, will provide a system policy view, representing one of the early statewide efforts to gain authority for all colleges to offer applied baccalaureate degrees.

Contexts for Students Success: Lessons Learned

Faculty and staff of Stella and Charles Guttman Community College in New York (founded as the New Community College) have drawn on best practices and policies for enhancing student academic achievement and success. Key units of the new college are the Center for College Effectiveness and the Office of Partnerships. The college will continue to draw on national research and practice as it aspires to be a campus centered on continuous learning and improvement.

Competency-Based Education: Best Practices for Institutions and Accreditors

Community Colleges: The Underrepresented Students’ Pathway to the Middle Class

Community colleges are the entry point to higher education for communities that have historically been underrepresented in higher education. They play a key role in putting these communities on a path to the middle class. You’ll learn about some of the best practices in this arena along with an update on key activities of the U.S. Department of Education and how they may impact community colleges.

A Look Ahead: More Inside the Boxes?

As we make plans for our institutions’ futures, it is imperative that we incorporate effective use of resources and expertise available from federal agencies. We must know what changes in existing programs are in the offing and what new programs might be added. What are the current hot topics being discussed among the leaders of these agencies? Are there ways that we can help inform these conversations based on our understandings and expertise in the field? Join us for this critical update.

Through the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders (the Alliance), academic leaders at community colleges and technical schools and at systems and state governing and coordinating boards associated with two-year institutions exchange ideas and information, share resources and expertise, and collaborate on regional initiatives. Together, these academic leaders build a stronger future for higher education in the West.